Is SBST obligated to help out when such contingency events arise, especially when the breakdown period coincides with PM peak? Share your thoughts.
No, but some of us saw that SBST had augmented its fleet for the evening post-peak period for good measure.
In the article, the OCC personnel mentioned 5 difficulties they faced, of which include:
1. Some MRT shuttles were caught in traffic jams and were unable to arrive on time at the affected MRT stretch.
2. SMRT Buses has over 2000 service leaders and not all of them are familiar with the MRT shuttle routes.
3. Limited personnel to guide MRT shuttle drivers.
4. SBS Transit declined to render help.
5. SMRT Buses only operates 25% of the bus routes in Singapore and thus unable to deploy enough buses for MRT shuttle.
Reading through the above points, it makes me wonder that if SMRT SLs are not familiar with the routes, what difference would it make if SBST steps in other than being able to pump in some buses? The situation would still be equally chaotic with SBST BCs awaiting instructions from SMRT side.
Originally posted by Simply.90:Reading through the above points, it makes me wonder that if SMRT SLs are not familiar with the routes, what difference would it make if SBST steps in other than being able to pump in some buses? The situation would still be equally chaotic with SBST BCs awaiting instructions from SMRT side.
What I feel is that as long as the SBST BCs know which stations are closed, they can simply run the routes on their own. They only take instructions from the people on the ground when to depart from the affected mrt station.
And by fact - SBST drivers are more familiar on the roads than SMRT drivers. partly cos of the coverage of the routes of SBST services except the north, as well as coverage of SMRT routes in certain parts of the island where its mostly SBST.
its down to market share la. You cant possibly imagine SBST being unable to handle an MRT breakdown cos most drivers keep getting lost and yet controls 75% of the scheduled bus routes here.
Originally posted by ^tamago^:No, but some of us saw that SBST had augmented its fleet for the evening post-peak period for good measure.
56 had more DD runs at night
88 kope bus from other services to disperse the toa payoh crowd
166... mostly DD so hard to spot if a SD was replaced by a DD after pm peak just for that.
While SBS Transit is not obliged to help out, I feel that they should help out, or at least help out the best they can since its the peak hour. It will indeed be gracious of them that they do. Putting the competition, rivalry and reputation of the two companies aside, people that were affected in the MRT breakdown were all fellow Singaporeans. If they did not even consider helping SMRT out at all, then it is not a matter about them leaving SMRT in a lurch, but more of them leaving fellow Singaporeans who are trapped in the chaotic breakdown in a lurch. Different transport companies should augur well with each other and help one another out in such emergencies, in a combined effort to cut down the damage already done to these commuters as much as possible.
Originally posted by service_238:What I feel is that as long as the SBST BCs know which stations are closed, they can simply run the routes on their own. They only take instructions from the people on the ground when to depart from the affected mrt station.
And by fact - SBST drivers are more familiar on the roads than SMRT drivers. partly cos of the coverage of the routes of SBST services except the north, as well as coverage of SMRT routes in certain parts of the island where its mostly SBST.
its down to market share la. You cant possibly imagine SBST being unable to handle an MRT breakdown cos most drivers keep getting lost and yet controls 75% of the scheduled bus routes here.
So it really boils down to how willing is SBST to help? Or was it because there wasn't any kind of agreement between the 2 co. beforehand (i.e. lack of precedence) that led to SBST not helping?
Originally posted by cheezing:While SBS Transit is not obliged to help out, I feel that they should help out, or at least help out the best they can since its the peak hour. It will indeed be gracious of them that they do. Putting the competition, rivalry and reputation of the two companies aside, people that were affected in the MRT breakdown were all fellow Singaporeans. If they did not even consider helping SMRT out at all, then it is not a matter about them leaving SMRT in a lurch, but more of them leaving fellow Singaporeans who are trapped in the chaotic breakdown in a lurch. Different transport companies should augur well with each other and help one another out in such emergencies, in a combined effort to cut down the damage already done to these commuters as much as possible.
It'd be helpful if that OCC personnel had actually revealed how much help they intended to source for and was it within SBST's capability to spare its extra capacity at that hour to help.. (maybe by calling back S shift BCs etc..)
Originally posted by Simply.90:It'd be helpful if that OCC personnel had actually revealed how much help they intended to source for and was it within SBST's capability to spare its extra capacity at that hour to help.. (maybe by calling back S shift BCs etc..)
Frankly say they can't hope SBST would help them.Theres other option like private buses mah.Just pay Lor..
Is it true that SBST helped out in CCG during the day when MRT were opened late?
And yes, 88 was forced to 'borrow' buses from other services due to it's ''convenient'' route linking Toa Payoh, Bishan and Ang Mo Kio MRT Station. One of the buses 'borrowed' was SBS6007T.
Actually calling SBST to help SMRT will only result in more bus jams outside affected MRT stations. As you know, SBST currently only operates NEL, which service 80 plys past most of the stations. SBST's BCs are only trained to operate NEL Shuttle and perhaps DTL Shuttle soon. Since it happened in peak hours also, SBST also having it's own bus services to operate, it is obvious for SBST to decline help. Because SBST drivers will also got caught in the maze especially on the AMK to TPY MRT station stretch. Got 1 driver on regular service already got lost while trying to nagivate through Bukit Timah Road. Now, imagine it on NSL. It will only make it more worse since there is also bendies doing the shuttle. You can imagine all the buses blocking the way to enter Braddel MRT Station.
Originally posted by dragg:arent they competitors?
will you help your competitors?
if they habour this kind of mindset, then SBS will celebrate if SMRT falls into trouble?
If this goes on I am not surprised if people lost faith in SG transport.
Don't ask why, The reasons are clear.
Originally posted by carbikebus:Frankly say they can't hope SBST would help them.Theres other option like private buses mah.Just pay Lor..
Pay? Don't you think they'd have to look after their own expenses every month?
Originally posted by TIB783G:If this goes on I am not surprised if people hates SG transport.
Don't ask why, The reasons are clear.
There's nothing abt hate
If SBST say ok help, then what happens to those ppl alrdy flocking to the BI?? To wait for 88, 159 etc?
It was peak hrs somemore
Nearing Christmas somemore
Originally posted by TIB783G:Pay? Don't you think they'd have to look after their own expenses every month?
woah
the mess is created by yourself, get other's resources no need to pay?